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	Participants Countries and organizations Conference documentation Conference programme				Report from Panel 2 on Remembering the Holocaust - the Challenges of Memory Presentation by Mr. Serge Klarsfeld Presentation by Dr. Anita Shapira Presentation by Dr. Franciszek Piper Presentation by Dr. Anita Shapira Shapira, Anita Presentation by Dr. Anita Shapira This paper deals with the major changes which occurred in the way we remember the Holocaust, and in the lessons to be drawn from that memory. I discern two major phases in remembering the Holocaust: the "public memory" and the "private memory". The "public memory" phase lasted from the end of the second world war until the early seventies. The "private memory" started at about that time and is still going strong. The first phase was characterized by the "nationalization" of the memory of the Holocaust: the Holocaust was incorporated within the founding myths of the state of Israel. The state was perceived as the guardian of the people, making sure that they would not find themselves again in a situation of complete helplessness, as had happened in the world war. At this stage memory was confined to the public realm, relating to the masses, making use of codewords such as "six million", "Auschwitz", "the by-standers" etc. This was a way of avoiding the pain, of avoiding confronting the living memories of the survivors. At the second stage, the memory of the Holocaust moved from the public sphere to the private sphere. The survivors’ memories came to the fore. The Holocaust stopped being enormous, anonymous, inconceivable, and was translated to the human and inhuman experiences of people. In this way it became much closer, more intimate, more personal. It became part of Israeli collective memory. This change resulted from changes which took place in Israeli ethos and self-image: the heroic image of the first decade was mitigated by a more humane one, accepting weakness and pain, degradation and suffering, as part of Israeli experience. This new approach enabled the memories of the survivors to become an integral part of the Israeli experience. Today, the memory of the Holocaust has become part and parcel of the western civilization. It is part of the 20th century experience, a constant reminder of the dangers inherent in human nature, of the bestiality lurking in the darkness of our soul. Will the memory of the Holocaust lead to a more humane society, or will it teach that man is a wolf to his fellowmen? >> Back to top				Introduction Opening Session: Messages and speeches Plenary Sessions: Messages and speeches Workshops, Panels and Seminars Summary Report on Panels and Workshops Panel 1: Holocaust Education - Where Are We Going? Panel 2: Remembering the Holocaust - The challenges of Memory Panel 3: Holocaust Research - From the Archives to the Classroom Workshops on Education Workshops on Remembrance and Representation Workshops on Research Closing Session and Declaration Other Activities
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